Oak Lawn Police Will Respond to 'High Priority' Calls Only

OAK LAWN, IL — The Oak Lawn Police Department is joining numerous other law enforcement agencies who are taking measures to protect their officers and members of the public from possible exposure to the new coronavirus. These changes will take effect immediately.

Until further notice, officers will only be responding to only high priority and emergency calls, including:

• Violent crimes and crimes against people
• Domestic-related incidents, either in progress or when the offender is still on the scene;
• Incidents, such as burglaries, that require the collection of evidence
• Serious motor vehicle crashes
• Other incidents will be decided on a case-by-case basis by a department supervisor and/or a police officer deems necessary
• If possible, meet the officer outside your home or business

All low priority calls that are not crimes in progress, non-emergency, delayed calls for service and service calls (lock outs, dog/animal calls), informational calls, property crimes or ordinance violations will be handled over the phone.

Low priority calls can be reported using one of OLPD’s non-emergency numbers at 708-499-7721, 7786, 7787, and 4455. Police ask that 911 be reserved for emergencies. Officers will respond based on the severity of the call. If you are involved in a traffic crash and your vehicle is drivable or occurs on private property exchange information for a report to be made in the future.

The Oak Lawn police will step up patrols within the community and will be responding to all emergency calls including accidents with injuries, and non-drivable accidents. In addition, police will enforce all state and federal social-distancing mandates as it pertains to restaurants, bars and people gathering.